Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



. 5.a HASELTINE FRIcTIoN sHocx ABsoRBING MECHANISM Orglnal Flled July 10 1924 Aug. 14, 19m

S. B. HASELTIN'E FRICTION SHOCK ABsoRBING MEcHANIsM Patented Aug. 14, 19.28. i i* Y Yirs rrsersar essere.

srAoY B. nesnn'rrnn, or emesso, immers, .essrenen BY iansnn ASSIGNMENTS, To

' w. n. ninna, Ine., a consce-Arron or DELAWARE.

FBCTION SHGCK-ABSORBING- MCHANISM.

Applcatoirled July 10, 1324, Serial No. 725.107. Renewed. February 6, 1328.

rlhis invention relates to improve-ments in The improved shock absorbing' mechanism friction shock absorbing mechanisms. proper, as shown, comprises broadly, front One object of t-he invention is to provide and rear friction casinns of shells' A A5 a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the front and rear wedge blocks B-B; front intercalated plate type, especially adapted and rea-r pairs of wedge shoes C-C; `two 60 for railway drafty riggings. wherein'is` obgroups of friction pla-tes VD--Dg a` pair of tained high capacity due to large frictional combined Vwedge and friction elements areas, together with preliminary action of Iii-E; front and rear restoring` bars FmF; the followers and wedge devices prior toV aoa main spring resistance G; and an auf;-

tual relative movement of the friction plates, 'iliary spring resistance H. 65 to assure easy release of the parts when the llhe front and rear friction. casings or actuating forceis removed. shells A are of like desipn, each being of Another object of the invention Vistoprorectangular crosssection Yand open at its vide a shock absorbing mechanism of theV opposite ends. Each casing` has longitudicharacter indicated, having a differential a-cnally disposed. spaced top and bottom walls 70 tion during the compression stroke. 18-18 and longitudinally disposed, spaced A still further object of the invention is side walls 19-19, the inner sides of the to provide a shock absorbing mechanism in* walls 19 presenting longitudinally entendcluding a plurality of relatively movable, ing friction surfaces20. adapted to coact 20V follower casings having a plurality of relawith the outermost plates of the two 75 tively movable friction plates coacting groups D.

therewith and lateral wedge pressure creat- The front and rear wedge blocks B are ing; means for placing the plates under presof like construction, each block having a sure, including wedge members and fiicflat outer face 21 adapted to bear on the 25 tion shoes wherein all ofthe parts are ininner face of the corresponding main fol- 80 terconnected by simple means for Vrestoring lower', and a. pair of wedge faces 22 at the the same to normal position after each comopposite end thereof converging inwardly of pression stroke. the mechanism and adapted to (2o-operate In the drawings, forming a part of this with the adjacent pairs of friction shoes C.

3U specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal, lon- The wedfre faces 22 are spaced apart later- 85 gitudinal. sectional view of a railway draft ally at their inner ends as clearly shown in rigging showing my improvements in con- `iFigure 5. and between said faces each block nection therewith. FigureQ is a front end, is provided with an inwardly projecting,

' elevational view of i the shock absorbing cylindrical extension 23 spaced equally from mechanism proper. Figure 3 is a vertical, the. top and bottom of the wedge. said ex- 90 transverse, sectional view of the shock abtension having,r a Hat end face adapted to sorbing mechanism proper, Corresponding Vform an abutment for the corresponding end substantially to the line 3*3 of Figure l. of the auxiliary spring resistance H.

Figure 4 is adetail, side elevational View The friction wedge shoes C are four in 40 of one of the friction plates used in connecnumber, arrangedin pairs at opposite ends 95 tion with my improved shock absorbing;V of the mechanism, each shoe C 'being promechanism. A ndy Figuren is 'a detail prvided with an outer wedge face 122 on the yspective View of one of the main wedges. side nearest the axis of the mechanism, In said drawings. 10-*10 indicate channeladapted t0 Cooperate with one of the wedge shaped center or draft sills of a railway faces 22 of the corresponding wedge block 10o car underfraine, to the inner faces of which B. VOn the opposite side, each shoe C has an are secured front stop Alugs' 11-,11 and real' elongated dat friction surface 24 adapted to stop lugs 12-12. The inner portion ofthe cooperate with the combined wedge and drawbar is shown at 13, to which iS iltfriction elementE at the correspondingr side tached a hooded yoke 14. The shock ab- 0f the mechanism, At the inner end, rear- 105 SOlb-lg llGChISlD propel', including front wardly of the wedge faces 122, each shoe is and rear followers 15 and 16, Ais disposed cutaway as shown. thereby providing a conwithin the yoke lt'and the movable parts of cave opening; 25 adapted to accommodate the draft rigging are supported by a deoneside of the spring; resistance G and a tacliablefsaddle plate 17. transverse abutment face 26 on which the 110 corresponding end of said spring is adapted to hear. AsV clearly shown in Figure 3, the adjacent sides of each pair of shoes are cut away to provide clearance for the extension 23 of the corresponding wedge block R YThe two wedge friction elements E which are of like construction, are Vdisposed on opposite sides of the mechanism and cooperate respectively with the shoes C and the trictomilanges 28. The outei' side of each Vwall 27 present-s aflat, longitudinally disposed friction surface 29 adapted to cooperate with the inneimost plate ot the corresponding group D. rlhe opposite side of the wall 727 is provided with a paire'f oppositely extending, faces 30, each converging slightly with reference to the outer surface 29, from r thecenter tothe corresponding end of the element E. rlhe front and roar faces 30l ot' to reinforce the elements E, preventing distortion ot the same the elements E in effect Vforming stitlfeningmembers to prevent hending and distortion ot the plates D. A s will be evident, the elementsE also serve to distribute the spreading pressure of the front `and rear wedge systems unitormlyover the length of the friction plates D. c

The friet-ion plates D are disposed within the casings AMA and comprise two oppositely Vdisposed groups. As herein shown each group consists oithree plates. The plates Dv are all of identical design, each plate beingvprovided with an inwardly eX- tending slot 3l vat one end andan elongated opening' 32 adjacent the opposite end, the slot and opening being disposed in longitudinal alignment and spaced equallyfrom the top and bottom edges 'of the plate. Adjacent plates of each group are reversely arranged, Vend for end, the inner and outer plates oi each group having their ends provided with the openings 32 disposed at one end of the mechanism, and the intermediate plate'of the samegroup having the end .pro-

vided with the opening 32 disposed at Vthe opposite end ot the mechanism.` The two groupsot plates are also reversely arranged with reference to each other, theinner and outer plates ot each, group at one side of the mechanism and the intermediate plate of are disposed transversely of the mechanism and each extends through the openings 32 of oppositely disposed plates, alternate plate of eachV group being thus anchored'tothe corresponding bar F for limited relative movement, each ot the elongated openings 32 of the plates being of greater dimension in length than the width of lthe bar and 'the slots 3l being' of sutiicie'nt lengthto permit full cen'ipression of the mechanism. Y Each of t-he bars Visalso anchoredto the corre- Vspond'sng wedge block Brand pair Vof shoes C, each wedge being provided Vwith va transverse opening 33 and each shoe withjatransverse opening 3e through which the corresponding bar extends. The openings 33 and certain oit the plates, and the slots 3l of the 34 are. sofproportioned that there is'aslight, Y

limited, relative movement between each bar and the cooperatingl wedge and pair of shoes,

the openings 3e being shorter in longitudinal. dimension than the openings p 32 of Vthe plates, and the openings 34 of the. shoes, in

turn, being shorter Vthan the opening 33.

The bars work in openings 35 provided in the friction elements "E, each element having two such openings disposed at opposite ends thereof'. Each opening 35 is of such length as to permit the full, necessary inovement'ot the bar during a compression stroke. Each b ar is anchored to the corresponding casing A, the opposite endsof the bar engaging in transversely aligned openings 36 provider in the opposite side walls othe casing, the respective openings 3G being preferably o t the ,same size the openings 32 ofV the plates, thel casing and corresponding bars being thus arrangedv for limited. relative movement. Y

in the normal, full released positionef the parte, the bars F abut the outer end wallso't the. correspondingopenings 35 of the frictionV elements E and have their?oiitward..inovev .ment limited thereby, the hars being held Vin their outermost posit-ion by the shoes @Land wedges'B, which in turniare Vforced eut-- wardlj.7 by the .springs G and H, respectively.

The hars F seri` e to restore the various'plates,

and the yshells A'. to normalV positioirby'engagement with the'outer end walls of the fcorresponding openings 32 and36, and also serve to center the 'friction element with reference tov the other parts. vThebars F not only act as restoring bars, but also serve to hold the parts of the mechanism in assem- -bled relation, and in conjunction with theVV friction elements E -serve `to maintain the mechanism of proper, uniform overall length and also manntain4 tne same under initial compression. It will. be rturtlfier noted V that f when the parts are in their normal position,

spaced from the corresponding followers,V

thereby providing for an initial movement of the wedge systems at the front and rear ends of the mechanism, without effecting any relative movement of the plates and front .and rear shells. rlhe plates are preferably of a length equal to the combined length of the front and rear casings so that when the mechanism is fully compressed, the front and rear followers will simultaneously abut both the front and rear ends of all of the plates, as well as the outer ends of the front and rear casings, the inner ends of the casings at this time beingin abutment also.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows, assuming an inward or butfing movement of the drawbar. rThe front follower 15 will be moved rearwardly forcing the wedge B rearwardly also, compressing` the auxiliary spring H, spreading apart the shoes C at the front end of the mechanism and forcing the same rearwardly, at the same time compressing the spring resistance G between the front and the rear pairs of shoes C. The rear pair of shoes C is thus forced into wedging engagement with the rear wedge B, the latter being held stationary by the follower '16. As will be evident, the wedging actionA set up between the front and rear wedges and pairs of shoes places the friction plates under lateral pressure. As the rearward movement of the follower 15 continues, the front set-of shoes will be moved rearwardly, sliding on the friction surfaceBO of the friction elements E and the front follower will gradually approach the front ends of the groups of plates D and the outer end of the front friction 4casing A. It will be evident that due to the inclination of thesurface 30 of the friction elements E, a differential wedge 'action will be had during the action described, the wedge shoes moving toward each other, slipping on thewedge faces of the main wedges B. Due to the friction between the plates, friction elements E and the front and rear shoes of the mechanism, there will be a balancing action with the result that the rear friction casing will be carried rearwardly and approach the rear follower 16 at substantially the same rate that the front casing is approached by the follower There will also be a corresponding rearward movement of the friction elements E with respect to the rear pair of shoes C effecting a differential action similar to that had at the front end of the mechanism. During this initial action, the front and rear bars F will be picked up and carried idly'inwardly of the mechanism by the shoes C,

through Contact vwith the outer ends of the slots 34 thereof and will be moved away from the end walls ofthe openings in the plates D, the front Vand rear casings A and the friction elements E, a clearance also appearing at this time between the innermost edges of the bars and the inner ends of the slots 33 and 3l of the wedges and shoes. This `of the two groups will also be moved relatively to eac-h other. vlt will be evident that friction will thus be created between the various plates, between the casing and cooperating plates and between the friction elements and cooperating plates and shoes, greatly augmenting the resistance offered.

he described action will continue until the'inner ends of the shells A come into abut-- nient the front and rear ends of all of the friction plates D and the corresponding ends. of the shells A abut the front and rear followers respectively, whereupon the force is transmitted directly through the shells A and the friction plates l) to the rear stop lugs, the parts being so proportioned as to thereby prevent the springs G and H from being driven solid.

vDuring draft, the action is substantially the reverse of that just described, the front follower 15 remaining stationary and the rear follower being moved toward the same. Upon reduction of the actuating force, the wedge elements B are instantly freed, independently of the other elements by the expansion of the auxiliary spring H, which acts directly on the wedges` B. There will also be an initial release increment of the friction shoes and wedges due to the restoring bars F being spaced from the outer ends of the'openings 32 of the plates and thc.

certain reduction of lateral pressure on the groups of friction plates is thus assured. As the .shoes at the opposite ends of the mechanism are forced outwardly by the spring G, the bars F will be picked up and moved outwardly also, the bars in turn being brought into engagement with the outer ends of the walls of the recesses 32 of the plates D and the recesses 36 of the casings A, restoring the corresponding plates and casing to normal position. The auxiliary vspring H,- in forcing the wedges outwardly to normal position, also forces the bars F outwardly, thereby assisting in the restoration of the friction plates and casings. Gutward movement ofV the restoring bars is positively' prevented.

walls of the openings of the friction elements E, as hereinbefore pointed out, thereby bringing all the" parts to normal position and also centering the friction eleiiieiits E. In this connection, it is pointed out that in the normal position of the parts, a elearance isA provided between eacliviestoring bar and thel outer end walls of the openings fand 3ft of the corresponding wedge and pair of shoes, thereby providing sui'iicient relative movement to `assure the iniieil end walls of tlieopcnings 33 and S-l being spaced the proper distance from the inner sides of the restoring bars during compression of Vthe mechanism, to permit necessary movement of the wedge bloclis B with reference to the bars Iiduring the initial-release of the mechanism while the spring II is acting, andalso permit a slight relative movement between the shoes and the bars during the initial release action of the spring The initial release of both the wedges and Vshoes is thus eifected indepeiidently` of'any movement of the bars.v Y

It will be evident from the proces.r 'ng description taken in connection with the drawings, that the restoring bars being anchored to the casings, friction plates, friction elements, shoes and wedges, provide exceedingly simple and efficientl means for, holding the parts assembled and effecting Vrestoration of the samey to normal position. The number of parts of the mechanism' are thus accordingly reduced and the usual retainer bolt entire-ly dispensed with, as the restoring-'bars in conjunction with the frictioii'elements to which they are anchored `serve to maintain the parts assembled and under initial compression. By providing separate spring means for releasing' the wedges, the wedges are `returned independently of any movement of the outerV parts of the mechanism and sticking of the Vwedges and shoes is I vhave herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying outthe invention, but the same is merely illustrative, and I contemplate all Vchanges and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers, relatively movable toward and away from each other, front and rear friction casings, said'oasings being relatively movable toward and away from each other,VV

said casi-ngs and followers having limited relative movement; a plurality of longitudinally disposed, relatively movable fric-V tionplates within `said casings engageable with said followers and adapted to be moved by the latter, said plates being divided into pressure crt-:ating means, anda two groups at opposite sides of 'the Amechanism the plates of said groupsbeing intercalated; a lateral wedgepressui'e creating means at each end Yof tliej'mecliaiiisnig tapered friction elementsinterposed between each group of plates andthe lateral wedge mainspring resistance. Y i Y 2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanisin, the combination with front and rear followers, relatively iiiovableytoward'each other; of front and krear casings, also relatively movable to *fard eachother; longitudinally disposed, relatively iiiovable, inter-` calated `friction plates withinfsaid casiiigs,

vsaid plates being divided-into two groups disposed opposite sides of the mechanism; atei'al pressure creating means disposed at "opposite ends of the mechanism, eachof said means including a main wedge and a pair of tudinallydisposed interior friction surfaces;v longitudinally disposed, intercalated fric#V tion plates within said casings, said plates being divided into two groups disposedat fiele opposite sides of the in'e'chanismand Vcoe acting with the respect-ive friction surfaces of the casings;` lateral pressure. cr ating means disposed .at the opposite ends of the mechanism, each of said meansincluding a wedge and a pair of friction wedge shoes; tapered friction elementsrinterposed between thegroiips ofplat'es and lateral pressure creating means; a spring resistancefcoact-ing with said shoes; a secondspring resistance directly coacting with saidwedge blocks only; and a restoring bar anchored to each of saidv wedge members, each pair of frietion shoes, each casing and certain plates casings to normal position. Y. Y y

Il. In a frictionshoclr absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers relatively movable toward "and away from each other; offrent and rear casings also relatively movable Ytoward and away from each other, saidcasings having longitudinally disposed, interior friet-ion suriio of veach group for restoringthe plates andVV faces; friction plates Vwithin' saidV casings,

said plates being divided into two'groups disposed at opposite sides ofthe mechanism and coaeting with the respect-ive friction surfaces the casings; lateral pressure creat-` main wedge-and cooperating pair of friction slices; friction elements interposed be-` tween the groups of plates andsaid lateral pressure creating means, sa-idelements having longitudinally 'extending reinforcing Y means thereon; spring resistance elements coactin@ g espectivly with the friction shoes and the wedge blocks at the opposite ends of the mechanism, and restoring barsancliored to the friction elements to limit the outward separation of sad bars, said bars Vbeing also anchored to said shoes and wedges to limit the outward movement thereof, and further anchored to certain of said plates and said casings to restore the same to normal position. A

followers relatively movable ltoward and away from each other; of front and rear casings also relatively movable toward each other, said casings having interior, longitudinally disposed friction surfaces; relatively movable friction plates within said casings, said plates being divi-ded into two groups 'disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism; lateral pressurecreating means disposed between said groupsvof pla-tesl at opposite ends of the mechanism, each of said means including a main wedge and a pair of wedge friction'shoes'; a Vmain spring resistance coacting with saidV shoes at the op'- posite ends of the mechanism; a second spring resistance directly coacting with 'said wedge bloclrs only; bars for restoring said plates and casings to normal position; and means directly engaging said bars forliniiting their relative separation. Y

G. ln a .friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear follower acting means, said means being movable toward and away from each other;

of front and rear relativelyv` movable friction shells having interior, posed friction surfaces; of a plurality of relatively movable intercalated plates within said shell, said plates being` divided into two groups'at opposite sides of the mechanism and cooperating respectivel with the friction `'surft'.ces of theV shell;

longitudinally diswedge spreading means at opposite ends of the mechanism disposed between said groups plates for placing the same underV lateral pressure; a spring resistance; unitary means. at opposite ends of the mechanism anchored to said shell and plates for restoring the same to normal position;` and floating means directly engaging said unitary means at opposite ends of the mechanism vfor limiting thel outward movement of said unitary means.

5. ln a friction shock absorbing mecha-V nism, the combination with front and rear friction Apressure resisting member, said member and- "neans being relatively movable, said member having longitudinally disposed friction surfaces; of a plurality of intercalated, relatively movable friction plates cooperatingwith the friction surfaces of said member; lateral pressure creating means for placing said lplates'under pressure and forcing the same against the friction surfaces of said member; a main spring resistance having oneend thereof co-opei'ating with said later .l pressure-creating means; a restoring bar anchoredv to said member, and certain of said plates for restoring said last-named plates and said member to normal position; means yieldingly held against movement in one direction by said spring resistance directly engaging said bar for limiting its outward movement.

8. a friction shock absorbing mechanisni, the combination with front and rear followers relatively Imovable toward and from ei ch other; of front and rear friction timings, said casings being also relatively movable toward and away from each other; a plurality of longitudinally disposed relatively movable intercalated friction plates vitliin said casings,said plates being divided into two groupsl at opposite sides of' `the mechanism;` a lateral wedge pressure creatii means at each end of the mechanism; a tapered friction element interposed tion of said bars.

9. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear follower acting means; of a friction system including friction elements, a plurality of longitudinally disposed; relatively movable, intercalated friction plates cooperating with said follower acting' means and friction elements; and means for placing said plates under lateral pressure; a main spring resistance; a restoring bar anchored to certain of said plates; a second restoring bar anchored to the remaining plates; and floating tie members connecting` said first and second named bars for limiting their relative separation. y

l0. In combination, a pair of sills having Ydraft and buffer lugs thereon, a draft gear between saidk lugs, said gear comprising a vpair of follower plates, a pair Vof sleeves means for foreingfsaid plates intoV frietenal engagement :dui'ingvhe compression of said gear; retiacting bars intei'loeked With saidA saicl'we'dge means and bars and between said bais and sleeves, whereby saidsleeves and plates are moved tonormal position by said resilient means after Compression;

' In Witness thatl I lclaim the foregoing YV have* hereunto subscribed my -name this'ls-,- i

Vday ef July, Y'

STACY B., I-ASELIINE.` 

